ANNOUNCER: Section 1. You will hear a man phoning a woman who lives in an English city called Banford to get some advice about moving to that city. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5. You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.

LINDA: Hello, Linda speaking.

MATT: Oh, hi, Linda. This is Matt Brooks. Alex White gave me your number. He said you'd be able to give me some advice about moving to Banford.

LINDA: Yes, Alex did mention you. How can I help?

MATT: Well, first of all, which area to live in?

LINDA: Well, I live in Dalton, which is a really nice suburb, not too expensive, and there's a nice park.

ANNOUNCER: Recommends a suburb called Dalton. So Dalton has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

LINDA: Hello, Linda speaking.

MATT: Oh, hi, Linda. This is Matt Brooks. Alex White gave me your number. He said you'd be able to give me some advice about moving to Banford.

LINDA: Yes, Alex did mention you. How can I help?

MATT: Well, first of all, which area to live in?

LINDA: Well, I live in Dalton, which is a really nice suburb, not too expensive, and there's a nice park.

MATT: Sounds good. Hmm. Do you know how much it would be to rent a 2 bedroom flat there?

LINDA: Yeah, you should be able to get something reasonable for £850 per month. 1 That's what people typically pay. You certainly wouldn't want to pay more than £900 – that doesn't include bills or anything.

MATT: No, that sounds all right. I'll definitely have a look there. Are the transport links easy from where you live?

LINDA: Well, I'm very lucky. I work in the city center, so I don't have to use public transport. I go by bike. 2

MATT: Oh, I wish I could do that. Is it safe to cycle around the city?

LINDA: Yes, it's fine, and it keeps me fit. Anyway, driving to work in the city center would be a nightmare, because there's hardly any parking. 3 And the traffic during the rush hour can be bad.

MATT: I'd be working from home, but I'd have to go to London one or two days a week.

LINDA: Oh, that's perfect. Getting to London is no problem. There's a fast train every 30 minutes. 4 Which only takes 45 minutes.

MATT: That's good.

LINDA: Yeah, the train service isn't bad during the week. And they run quite late at night. It's weekends that are a problem. 5 They're always doing engineering work. And you have to take a bus to Hadham and pick up the train there, which is really slow. But other than that Banford's a great place to live. I've never been happier.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10. Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

LINDA: There are some nice restaurants in the city center, and a brand new cinema, which has only been open a couple of months. 6 There's a good arts center too.

MATT: Sounds like Banford's got it all.

LINDA: Yes, we're really lucky. There are lots of really good aspects to living here. The schools are good, and the hospital here is one of the best in the country. 7 Everyone I know who's been there has had a positive experience.

LINDA: Oh, I can give you the name of my dentist too, in Bridge Street, if you're interested. 8 I've been going to him for years, and I've never had any problems.

MATT: Oh, OK, thanks.

LINDA: I'll find his number and send it to you.

MATT: Thanks, that would be really helpful.

LINDA: Are you planning to visit Banford soon?

MATT: Yes, my wife and I are both coming next week. We want to make some appointments with estate agents.

LINDA: I could meet you if you like, and show you around.

MATT: Are you sure? We'd really appreciate that.

LINDA: Either a Tuesday or Thursday is good for me, after 5:30.

MATT: Thursday is preferable – Tuesday, I need to get home before 6 pm. 9

LINDA: OK, great. Let me know which train you're catching, and I'll meet you in the café outside. 10 You can't miss it. It's opposite the station, and next to the museum.

MATT: Brilliant. I'll text you next week then. Thanks so much for all the advice.

LINDA: No problem. I'll see you next week.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Physical activities

ANNOUNCER: Section 2. You will hear a fitness instructor talking on the radio about different ways of keeping fit. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

SPEAKER: So, if you are one of those people who hasn't found the perfect physical activity yet, here are some things to think about, which might help you make the right decision for you. The first question to ask yourself is whether you would enjoy training in a gym. Many people are put off by the idea of having to fit a visit to the gym into their busy day. You often have to go very early or late, as some gyms can get very crowded. But with regular training, you'll see a big difference in a relatively short space of time.

Running has become incredibly popular in recent years. That's probably got a lot to do with the fact that it's a very accessible form of exercise. Anyone can run, even if you could only run a few meters to begin with, but make sure you get the right shoes.  It's worth investing in a high quality pair, and they don't come cheap. Another great thing about running is that you can do it at any time of day or night. The only thing that may stop you is snow and ice.

Swimming is another really good way to build fitness. What attracts many people is that you can swim in an indoor pool at any time of year. On the other hand, it can be quite boring or solitary. It's hard to chat to people while you're swimming lengths.

Cycling has become almost as popular as running in recent years. That's probably because as well as improving their fitness, many people say being out in the fresh air in a park or in the countryside can be fun. Provided the conditions are right of course, only fanatics go out in the wind and rain.

Yoga is a good choice for those of you looking for exercise, which focuses on developing both a healthy mind and body. It's a good way of building strength. And with the right instructor, there's less chance of hurting yourself than with other more active sports. But don't expect to find it easy, it can be surprisingly challenging. Especially for people who aren't very flexible.

Getting a personal trainer is a good way to start your fitness program. Obviously, there can be significant costs involved, but if you've got someone there to encourage you and help you achieve your goals, you're less likely to give up. Make sure you get someone with a recognized qualification though, or you could do yourself permanent damage.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the radio program, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

SPEAKER: Whatever you do, don't join a gym unless you're sure you'll make good use of it. So many people waste lots of money by signing up for membership and then hardly ever go. What happens to their good intentions? I don't think people suddenly stop caring about improving their fitness or decide they have more important things to do. I think people lose interest when they don't think they're making enough progress. 17 That's when they give up hope and stop believing they'll ever achieve their goals.

Also, what people sometimes don't realize when they start is that it takes a lot of determination and hard work to keep training week after week. 18 And lots of people don't have that kind of commitment.

One thing you can do to help yourself is to set manageable goals, be realistic, and don't push yourself too far. 19 Some people advise writing goals down, but I think it's better to have a flexible approach.

Give yourself a really nice treat every time you reach one of your goals. 20 And don't get too upset if you experience setbacks. It's a journey. There are bound to be difficulties along the way.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Using Natural Dyes to Colour Fabrics

ANNOUNCER: Section 3. You will hear a textile design student called Jim discussing his project on using natural dyes to colour fabrics with his tutor. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

TUTOR: OK, Jim. You wanted to see me about your textile design project.

JIM: That's right. I've been researching how a range of natural dyes can be used to colour fabrics such as cotto and wool.

TUTOR: Why did you choose that topic?

JIM: I got several ideas from the museum exhibition of textiles. But I've always been interested in colour. Years ago I visited a carpet shop in Turkey with my parents and I still remember the amazing colours.

TUTOR: Those colours might not all have come from natural dyes.

JIM: Probably not, but it inspired my project. I also found a very helpful book about a botanic garden in California that focuses on plants used for dyes.

TUTOR: And you needed to include a practical investigatio , didn’t you?

JIM: Yes. At first I struggled to decide which variables to investigate. I thought about using just one fibre like cotto and comparing different dyes.

JIM: But then I decided to include more fibres, so I tested cotto , wool and nylo .

TUTOR: And you used only one type of dye?

JIM: No, I used various dyes, including some artificial ones for comparison.

JIM: I carried out the experiments last week. I ordered some ready-made natural dyes online, but I also made some dyes myself.

TUTOR: That must have taken a lot of time.

JIM: Yes, much longer than I expected. For example, I used beetroot to make a red dye, and I had to chop up a large quantity of it.

TUTOR: Some people use food colouring as a dye.

JIM: I tried that too. I used a yellow artificial dye called tartrazine on cotton. The colour looked great at first, but when I rinsed the fabric, it washed out completely.

JIM: I had planned to try it on nylo , but after that result I decided not to continue.

TUTOR: Were you concerned about health issues?

JIM: Not really. Since it’s approved as a food colouring, I assumed it was safe.

TUTOR: It can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30.

TUTOR: So which natural dyes did you test?

JIM: One was turmeric. It produces a very strong yellow colour and is commonly used in foods such as curry.

TUTOR: Yes, but it may not be very permanent as a dye.

JIM: I also used beetroot on wool. Surprisingly, instead of bright red, the wool turned a pale cream colour.

TUTOR: There’s also a famous natural dye called Tyrian purple, which comes from shellfish.

JIM: Yes, it was used in ancient times by important people because it was so rare, but I didn’t use it.

TUTOR: Did you try any black dyes?

JIM: Yes, I used logwood. That process was quite complicated because the fabric had to be prepared first.

TUTOR: I hope you wore protective gloves.

JIM: Of course. I know that dye can be dangerous if ingested.

TUTOR: What about the insect dye called cochineal?

JIM: Yes, I used it. I bought the dye online because I didn’t have time to crush insects myself. It was extremely expensive.

TUTOR: That’s why it’s usually used in small quantities for food colouring rather than fabric dye.

JIM: I also read about dyeing fabric using metal oxide. For example, letting iron rust while it touches the fabric.

TUTOR: Yes, that works well on cotto , but the metal can damage the fabric. Also the colours are often subtle, which some people may not like.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 3. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers.

The Sleepy Lizard

ANNOUNCER: Section 4. You will hear part of a biology lecture about an animal called the sleepy lizard, which is common in parts of Australia. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: Last week we started looking at reptiles, including crocodiles and snakes. Today I’d like us to examine another reptile — the lizard — and particularly a species called Tiliqua rugosa, commonly known as the sleepy lizard.

SPEAKER: It gets this name because it moves quite slowly and often spends time resting under rocks or lying in the su .

SPEAKER: Sleepy lizards live in Western Australia and South Australia, where they are fairly common.

SPEAKER: Unlike most European lizards, which are usually small, green and fast, sleepy lizards are brow and much larger.

SPEAKER: One distinctive feature is their dark blue tongue, which contrasts with the bright pink lining of their mouth.

SPEAKER: Their diet is quite varied. They eat insects, sometimes small animals, but mainly plants.

SPEAKER: Although they have strong jaws capable of crushing beetles and snail shells, they still face several predators.

SPEAKER: In the past, large birds such as cassowaries were major predators, but today they are more often killed by snakes.

SPEAKER: Another threat is human activity. Many sleepy lizards are killed by cars while crossing highways.

SPEAKER: A study by Michael Freake at Flinders University examined how these lizards navigate.

SPEAKER: Even though they move slowly, they can travel long distances. When moved away from their territory, they were usually able to find their way home.

SPEAKER: Interestingly, they could navigate simply by being able to see the sky, without relying on landmarks.

SPEAKER: Observations in the wild also show unusual mating behavior. Sleepy lizards tend to be monogamous, returning to the same partner each year.

SPEAKER: The male and female remain together for long periods both before and after their young are born.

SPEAKER: One theory suggested that this might help protect their young. However, researchers observed that after the young hatch, they have very little contact with their parents.

SPEAKER: Another theory is that males stay with females to protect them from rival males, since males in monogamous pairs tend to be larger and stronger.

SPEAKER: However, scientists still lack clear evidence to confirm these explanations.

SPEAKER: In another study, researchers attached a tiny GPS tracking device to the lizards’ tails to monitor their movements.

SPEAKER: After releasing them, researchers tracked the lizards for 12 days, collecting data about their locatio and even the number of steps they took.

SPEAKER: Surprisingly, the researchers recorded far fewer meetings between lizards than expected.

SPEAKER: It appeared that the lizards were actually trying to avoid each other.

SPEAKER: One possible explanation is that male lizards can cause serious injuries during fights, so avoiding each other might be a form of self-preservatio .

SPEAKER: However, more data is needed before scientists can be certain about these behaviors.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 4. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers.